Scorpion fly female - Panorpa communis

Images taken in a controlled environment or with a posed subject. All subject types.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

pawelfoto
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 2:51 pm
Location: Poland

Scorpion fly female - Panorpa communis

Post by pawelfoto »

The female scorpion fly resembles the male structure, but there is no bulge on the tail, only a forked brush. During copulation, the male holds the female with his tongs at the end of his tail and pumps the sperm. Both have well-developed mouthparts, which is important in obtaining food, but also in the mating act. As with many animals, the scorpion fly has the custom of nuptial gift. According to Wikipedia a nuptial gift is a nutritional gift given by one partner in some animals' sexual reproduction practices. In the scorpionfly males offer a salivary secretion as a nuptial gift before and during copulation. Exchange of the salivary secretion takes place after prolonged courtship interactions. The nuptial gift is more likely to be accepted by the female if premating duration is long. Males in poor condition with a limited supply of saliva may deliberately delay initiating copulations to decrease the probability that their costly gift is rejected and, thus, wasted. Males in good condition with ample mating resources, on the other hand, may afford the risk of wasting a salivary mass and therefore take every opportunity to mate.
Unfortunately, I have not managed to meet the couple during their love affairs so far, but it motivates me to continuous search. Maybe one day I will manage such a photo.
here are pictures in full resolution: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
==best, Pawel
Attachments
5DMkIV + mp-e65mm x1,5 f/5,6 1/60s ISO-200, 129*150µ WeMacro, 8xLED, Zerene, PS, retouched mounting pin
5DMkIV + mp-e65mm x1,5 f/5,6 1/60s ISO-200, 129*150µ WeMacro, 8xLED, Zerene, PS, retouched mounting pin
M6M2, Mitu5x+DCR250 on 125mm tube(2,5x) ISO-100, 1/40s, 279*20µ WeMacro, 8xLED
M6M2, Mitu5x+DCR250 on 125mm tube(2,5x) ISO-100, 1/40s, 279*20µ WeMacro, 8xLED
M6M2, Mitu5x+DCR250 on 125mm tube(2,5x) ISO-100, 1/40s, 192*20µ WeMacro 8xLED
M6M2, Mitu5x+DCR250 on 125mm tube(2,5x) ISO-100, 1/40s, 192*20µ WeMacro 8xLED
Mouthparts. M6M2, Nikon CFI Plan Achromat 10x 0.25+DCR150, 1/10s ISO-100, 183*7µ WeMacro, 8xLED
Mouthparts. M6M2, Nikon CFI Plan Achromat 10x 0.25+DCR150, 1/10s ISO-100, 183*7µ WeMacro, 8xLED
Mouth (left)&tail (right) M6M2, Nikon CFI Plan Achromat 10x 0.25+DCR150, 1/10s ISO-100, 208*7µ WeMacro, 8xLED
Mouth (left)&tail (right) M6M2, Nikon CFI Plan Achromat 10x 0.25+DCR150, 1/10s ISO-100, 208*7µ WeMacro, 8xLED
Last edited by pawelfoto on Sun Jun 13, 2021 3:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Adalbert
Posts: 2426
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:09 pm

Re: Scorpion fly female - Panorpa communis

Post by Adalbert »

very nice :smt041

quenoteam
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:35 pm
Location: Málaga [Spain]
Contact:

Re: Scorpion fly female - Panorpa communis

Post by quenoteam »

magnificent details =D>

MarkSturtevant
Posts: 1946
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:52 pm
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
Contact:

Re: Scorpion fly female - Panorpa communis

Post by MarkSturtevant »

Very well done.
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic